FLOOD DANGERS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22003, 29 January 1937, Page 12

FLOOD DANGERS

"Certain and Terrible

Risk"

CONTROL OF MANAWATU

RIVER

(.FHESS ASSOCIATION TELEGHAM.) PALMERSTON N., January 28. In his reply to a deputation which sought State action to prevent erosion by the Rangitikei river below Bulls, the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), said: "We have to tackle the problem of tens of thousands of acres being washed out to sea. We cannot allow it to continue. We have read what happened in America. My study of the rivers of the Dominion makes me think that such is, not impossible in New Zealand."

Mr Semple added that he did not desire to be called a fatalist, or a scaremonger, but in his opinion the Manawatu river carried a certain and terrible risk if not dealt with methodically and scientifically. The trouble was not confined to the Manawatu or the Rangitikei. A good deal of trouble was man-created. There had been ruthless destruction of timber on hillsides, without an afforestation policy for replacement. The Minister said he considered that the proper control of rivers was so difficult and so costly that it should never have been thrown overboard by the nationally responsible authorities to drainage boards and county councils. There should have been comprehensive schemes embarked upon after scientific investigation. Every man had looked after his own patch and emptied water on the others, continued the Minister. He did not blame that man.

Regarding the stationing of a Public Works engineer at Palmerston North, who will make a special study and survey of the Manawatu river and also give attention to the Rangitikei, the Minister said that the Government was conscious of the responsibility. Meanwhile, in order to stay the trouble, temporary measures would be considered.